Longsjo Classic a mix of old and new

The course for the Longsjo Classic's opening stage, the Leominster Twilight Criterium, which will be held Friday.

Sentinel and Enterprise staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

Everyone knows the Fitchburg Downtown Criterium.

It's the straightforward and iconic stage that caps the Longsjo Classic, looping through Fitchburg's downtown area in a circuit that goes for around a mile.

Mostly flat, the run features a slight climb and descent as riders make the left turn from Main Street to Boulder Drive.

There are no secrets, no surprises, even for the less-experienced rider or fan. The route blocks off larger portions of Main Street and Boulder Drive, with Putnam Street closed off as well.

Vendors will line Main Street leading up to the finish line at City Hall, hocking pizza and snacks, Longsjo merch and delightful smoothies.

The course for the Longsjo Classic's second stage, the Worcester Twilight Criterium, which will be held Saturday.

Sentinel and Enterprise staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

The start/finish area is a popular spot to watch from, though the turn from Boulder to Putnam promises potential thrills as packs of cyclists fly around a 90 degree turn at high speeds.

Everyone knows the Fitchburg Downtown Criterium.

But Fitchburg's race is just one of three stages, with the newly revived event featuring a leg in Leominster for the second straight year on Friday night and a brand new run through downtown Worcester on Saturday evening.

starting in front of Wyman's Liquors on Pleasant Street and going through the downtown area in front of the Leominster Public Library.

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From there, it's turns onto Cotton Street and Cottage Street bring the race back to the start point on Pleasant.

The areas in front of the library along Pleasant Street provide plenty of vantage points for fans looking to take in action.

Worcester's own twilight course race starts on Front Street in front of Worcester Common, taking riders past City Hall and the Hanover Theater on Main Street. Turns onto Myrtle Street and Salem Street bring racers to Church Street before arriving back at the start/finish line.

The course for the Longsjo Classic's final stage, the Fitchburg Classic Criterium, which will be held Sunday.

Sentinel and Enterprise staff photos can be ordered by visiting our SmugMug site.

So where should spectators go to watch the Worcester stage? In its first year, it will take some experimentation by viewers to find optimal sight lines. And if organizers are right in their prediction of a large turnout, those wanting to watch may want to get somewhere along the route early.

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